Mr Gilbert Longden: I intervene in the debate for only one minute to support my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Robert Cooke) in what he said. I also wish to welcome my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction back to the Department. I sat with him through the 351 hours, or whatever it was, of the Housing Finance Bill, and I am delighted that to see him back here now and out of...
Mr Gilbert Longden: asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will reopen the list of direct grant schools; and if she will recapitulate her policy towards these schools.
Mr Gilbert Longden: I acknowledge the great help that my right hon. Friend has been to these admirable institutions, which are a bridge between the public sector and the private sector, but could not she reconsider her decision not to re-open the list?
Mr Gilbert Longden: When the Prime Minister visits America, will he make it clear to the President that our joining Europe implies no weakening, but rather a strengthening, of the Atlantic Alliance—which alliance is as much in the interests of America and Canada as of Europe?
Mr Gilbert Longden: Reverting to the last question and an earlier one, if the Government are contemplating interfering with judicial processes will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that there are objects much more worthy of our consideration than the Desramault imbroglio, namely, the thalidomide children?
Mr Gilbert Longden: If the right hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East (Mr. Callaghan) can mistrust the Daily Telegraph for its views on Northern Ireland and Southern Rhodesia, I mistrust his views. If he can seriously equate the situation in Northern Ireland with that in Southern Rhodesia, his argument is too ridiculous for words. I have always deprecated sanctions, and for three reasons. First, I have always ...
Mr Gilbert Longden: asked the Prime Minister what was the outcome of his most recent talks with the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Gilbert Longden: Regarding prices of fresh foodstuffs, on which a great deal of complaint was made by the Opposition yesterday, is it not the case that in the Labour Party's package of 1966 they were expressly excluded?
Mr Gilbert Longden: asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the progress of his Government's policies to combat inflation.
Mr Gilbert Longden: While the rate of increase in the standard of living and the growth rate in this country have both practically doubled and the rate of inflation has halved since the Government came into office, may I put it to my right hon. Friend that the perfectly true and satisfactory statistical figures do not cut much ice with the housewife who is worried because prices seem to be rising daily? Is my...
Mr Gilbert Longden: When discussing mandatory sanctions, has the United Nations ever deliberated which is the more worthy of having mandatory sanctions imposed against it—a country like Uganda which expels citizens who wish to stay there or a country like Russia which retains those who wish to get out?
Mr Gilbert Longden: Is my hon. Friend aware that there is a demand among the great majority of moderate students for a registrar? As we are to look forward, we are told, to a lighter legislative programme, will my hon. Friend and his right hon. Friend take over the Bill which I introduced last Session?
Mr Gilbert Longden: Is it not becoming daily more obvious that it is the existence of the border which is preventing our winning this war? What advice do the military authorities give to my right hon. Friend about sealing it? There is a much longer border running across the length of Europe which is so impenetrable that it is known as the Iron Curtain.
Mr Gilbert Longden: asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his latest meeting with the Trades Union Congress.
Mr Gilbert Longden: Mention has been made of some help for retirement pensioners. While appreciating that they have more to gain than any other section of the community from stable prices, may I ask whether my right hon. Friend is in a position to quantify the benefit contemplated for them?
Mr Gilbert Longden: asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his official talks with Chancellor Brandt.
Mr Gilbert Longden: While thanking my right hon. Friend for that answer, may I point out that since I tabled the Question the forthcoming summit conference has been arranged? Will my right hon. Friend impress on his colleagues at the summit that the present state of the European Assembly does nothing to reassure the British people that they are about to join a democratic community? Will he also impress on them...
Mr Gilbert Longden: asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a directive to all planning authorities that, until further notice, no planning permission to develop land for housing shall be granted unless it contains a condition that the applicant shall sell it at a price which allows him to obtain no more than a reasonable profit on the original cost of land to him.
Mr Gilbert Longden: Is my hon. Friend aware that the suggestion in my Question is intended as a spur to the Government to face up to this modern phenomenon of exorbitant property prices which has become a scandal and an offence to all right-thinking people?
Mr Gilbert Longden: Has any estimate been made of the total number of these people who will ultimately have to be accommodated? It is very disheartening to a county like Hertfordshire, which is doing its stuff under the Act, that other counties do not and the gipsies simply come pouring into Hertfordshire again.